Unlocking the Secrets of Today's Sports Puzzle Challenge

Ever felt stuck on a puzzle and wished for a nudge in the right direction? Today's Sports Edition puzzle is no walk in the park. It's a brain teaser that might leave you scratching your head, especially if French soccer isn't your forte. But don't worry, help is here. This puzzle isn't your typical New York Times game. It's a special edition brought to you by The Athletic, a site dedicated to sports news. You won't find it in the usual NYT Games app, but you can play it for free online or through The Athletic's app. Let's dive into some hints to get you started. The easiest group, marked in yellow, is all about something you wear on your head. Think about what you might put on your noggin to protect yourself or just to look cool. Next up is the green group. This one's about something that comes before a part of the year. It's a prefix that changes the meaning of the word "season. "Now, things get a bit more challenging with the blue group. This one's all about French football. If you're not familiar with Ligue 1 teams, you might find this one tricky. Finally, the purple group is the toughest. It's related to something you might associate with Louisville Slugger, a famous baseball equipment brand. Think about what you need when you're up to bat. If you're still stuck, here are the answers. The yellow group is all about headgear, so the words are cap, hat, mask, and visor. The green group is about prefixes to "season, " so the words are mid, off, post, and pre. The blue group is about Ligue 1 teams, so the words are Lens, Marseille, Nice, and PSG. Lastly, the purple group is about batting, so the words are average, gloves, practice, and stance. Remember, puzzles are meant to be challenging, but they're also meant to be fun. Don't get too frustrated if you can't figure it out right away. Take a break, come back later, and give it another shot.